Peregrination, noun: a journey through life; a course of travel, esp. abroad; a journey, esp. on foot

Sea kayaking photos

Mountain photos

Peregrinations

Forget the back and forth of daily life, and set out on a journey. One foot in front of the other, along a track or up a wild and desolate mountain. Hop into a sea kayak and launch yourself on to the wide open ocean. Learn to navigate your way through the wilderness, build up your skills and take those first bold steps towards independence and self-sufficiency.

Scotland's wilderness

Thanks to some of the most liberal access laws in the world, in Scotland we truly can go anywhere. Forget the beaten track, leave the hordes behind, and we'll find desert islands to camp on, remote valleys to wander through and lonely peaks to summit. Scotland is home to the UK's 56 highest mountains, and 790 islands lie off its coast (give or take, depending on how you count them). Britain's largest bodies of fresh water are all here, no matter how you measure them: by depth (Loch Morar), by expanse (Loch Lomond), or by volume (Loch Ness). Dumfries and Galloway, in the southwest corner, lays claim to western Europe's only Dark Sky Park, the perfect place for stargazing.

Wildlife

Wildlife encounters add to the magic - grouse and deer are common on the hills, and seals almost guaranteed in a kayak, but time, patience and luck may reward you with eagles, beavers, basking sharks, otters, ptarmigan and mountain hares. Loch Sween is home to brittle stars that can be found nowhere else, sea birds of all sizes flock to the cliffs and crags to breed, and you can even stumble across wallabies on Loch Lomond's Inchconnachan island.

Training and courses

Empty spaces can be daunting, even for the experienced, and Scottish weather only adds to that. I can help you develop the skills and confidence you need to set out alone. Navigation courses and sea kayak coaching are carried out in small groups, to guarantee personal attention. We can also introduce you to new experiences such as wild camping, either on foot or from a kayak.

About us

Laura Bennitt

Since moving to Scotland in 2005, I’ve spent as much time as possible outdoors. Up mountains, over waves and down rivers, across moorlands and scree slopes, camping on deserted islands and hoping to catch glimpses of astounding wildlife.

I’ve always enjoyed sharing my love for the world around us; I moved to Scotland to take up a job as a riding trek guide near Edinburgh, and I used to work for Rough Guides, tracking down the best hard-to-find places and most interesting snippets of information to pass on.

Now as a qualified Mountain Leader, Advanced Sea Kayak Leader, and BC/UKCC Level 3 Sea Coach (one of only a handful in the UK), I can guide you to Scotland’s most spectacular locations, take you off the beaten track, and help you gain the skills to confidently enjoy the outdoors long after you leave.

Mark Mitchell

After ten years living life on the road, touring worldwide with music artists and working in TV and event production, I chose to anchor my life in Edinburgh. This complete change to the pattern of my life allowed me to discover the world of paddlesports. I now work both professionally and voluntarily across Scotland offering coaching and guiding services to anyone willing to come exploring.

My heart is on the sea and that is where I spend most of my time, though the art of the single bladed traditional open canoe is currently fighting for my attention. I love teaching and particularly specialise in melding different rolling techniques from various parts of the world to offer a low impact targeted method to achieving your first roll. I hold the BC/UKCC Level 2 coaching award with the Moderate Water Endorsement (Sea), Advanced Sea Leader and Open Canoe Leader awards pending.

2017 bookings

As we have recently had a baby, we are not offering any scheduled trips or courses in 2017. However we are always happy to put together a tailor-made trip for you, and we can help with equipment hire, transport and accommodation. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Laura on laura@peregrinationsoutdoors.co.uk or 0777 339 5559.